Take a walk around the SEED Campus, and you’ll see our commitment to sustainability in every corner. It was one of the key pillars of this project from the very beginning, reflected in our pursuit of Gold LEED certification for the main building and Sustainable SITES certification for the landscape.
Now that the campus is open, we’re proud to highlight the thoughtful, green choices that shape our space.
Stormwater Management
The SEED Campus manages its stormwater without any impact on the city of Kent with a three-acre stormwater retention pond, two water wells, and bioswales within the main parking lot. Bioswales are trenches full of moisture-loving vegetation that slow down rainwater and filter out pollutants, particularly salt.
Solar Arrays
A two-acre, 650-kilowatt photovoltaic solar array powers the SEED Campus, making it a net-zero site. The array has produced 67 MWh for the month of September, as of Sept. 24, 2025.
It’s also an evolving research laboratory where Davey Institute scientists are exploring low-maintenance, low-growth vegetation beneath the panels. Their findings are laying the groundwork for new sustainable best practices that Davey can offer clients.
Preserving Natural Resources
A nine-acre bog that lies at the north side of the property has been preserved in its natural state. It was important for us to keep this ecosystem because it’s home to a wide variety of species and helps promote biodiversity.
Additionally, many mature trees from the golf course that once occupied the site have been carefully preserved and maintained.
Sustainable Turfgrass
All grass blends planted on the campus are A-LIST certified, meaning they require less water and fertilizer, while still maintaining high quality.
Pollinator Gardens
The campus’s pollinator habitats – in peak bloom between June to August – are part of the Davey Institute’s research plots. They were planted using a slit seeder, a method that minimizes soil disturbance and helps preserve soil carbon, and by drone.
Indoor Features
The main building includes low-flow plumbing fixtures, bottle refill stations, and LED lighting fixtures with occupancy and dim-control sensors. It also showcases several features made of reclaimed wood, including the barn/events space – but we’ll save more details for a future blog post!
